Category Archives: Uncategorized

As I have been journeying to become a counselor, the Lord has shown me many things to do to improve how I see myself and others from a Godly and therapeutic standpoint.

~”But godliness with contentment is great gain.”~1 Timothy 6:6, NIV~

In order for me to be the best therapist that I can be, I must strive towards Godliness. This means seeing my future clients as the Lord Jesus would see them as I humbly meet them where they are at in terms of their therapeutic needs.

I love people. I also love Jesus. Jesus loves my future clients for therapy more than I love them. Therefore, I must give Him all of the glory, the honor, and the praise that He deserves.

Enjoying nature at the park today!

I found a leaf during my nature walk at the park today!

The breeze at the nature park was so refreshing!

This leaf is like a treasure from Heaven! I love the color of it that God created so intricately!

Laying back and relaxing on a bench at a nature park today!

Blowing on a dandelion during my nature walk!

I am a student with Liberty University and their online program for as Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am about halfway into the program and am set to graduate in the Spring of 2022. I am thankful to God that I have made it this far. However, I must give all of the glory to God for allowing me to go through this bootcamp that is training to become a future counselor.

I am learning how to paraphrase. I am learning how to use challenging skills. I am also learning reflection of feeling, meaning, and content so that I can be equipped to serve my future clients as they come to me and I serve them: through therapy.

Even though it is only May 2020, I still have a long time to go before I graduate from this program. I see myself becoming a counselor and envision myself in this calling and profession as I work towards this calling every day. I thank God for giving me outlets for selfcare.

A shadow of a cross that I took at a nature park today!

Selfcare for me includes nature hiking, picking flowers, creating artwork through means of drawing and painting, writing, journaling, ballroom dancing, and other hobbies. Selfcare for me, as a future counselor, is so important because it will give me an outlet to recharge and rejuvenate for the next session with my future clients. I cannot wait until I graduate and am able to utilize my selfcare techniques by taking them to a new level when I start counseling in the future. It will be self-gratifying as well as honorable to the Lord.

~”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”~Jeremiah 29:11, NIV~

God knows the plans He has for me. I have to be the one to execute these plans for my future as I step out on faith and do what it takes to reach my goal to become a future counselor. This faith is something that moves mountains and is one that I cannot see. It is power. It is a miracle. It is glorious. Hallelujah!

I am still praying about the people group that I will be a counselor for to counsel. It will probably be women because I have a heart to serve women and their families. Please keep me in prayer every body as I work towards my goals.

**Don’t forget to follow me!! I will be sure to create blog posts at least once per week for your enjoyment. Happy Saturday everyone!!

~”I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”~Philippians 4:13, KJV~

I have a dream. I have a dream to become a counselor for children and families. This is a dream that I have had on the inside of me since 2015. And I am now in school, hoping for this dream to come to pass in my lifetime.

~”And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”~Joel 2:28, NIV~

The hand of God is on my life and has led me to return to Liberty University to get my third Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. You may be reading this and wondering, “Why would you go back to school to get your third Master of Arts degree?” The answer to this question is short and simple: to bring healing, help, and hope to the hurting.

I want to be the hands and feet of Christ to the hurting and show them that they do not have to remain stuck. I want to show people that Christ is the way out of the darkness and that the only way to get help is to enter into the light. That light is the light of Jesus Christ.

I recently had a vision. The Lord took me to heaven, in that vision. In that vision, I saw me, as a counselor and advisor and that the hands of God put me there in the eternal so that I could have clear vision of what my purpose is on earth: to become a counselor.

Looking back and reflecting on that vision that I had recently, I know that the Lord’s purpose for me is simple and plain: to become a counselor.

I remember when I went on a medical missions trip to Uganda several months ago in 2019. When I returned from that medical missions trip, I announced, as a part of my testimony to my Sunday School class at my church, that going on that medical missions trip was life-changing in that it made my vision clear: to become a counselor.

That Fall 2019, I went back to school to study with Liberty University’s online program so that I can become a licensed professional counselor (LPC)….Sarah A. Dickens, LPC. I am now in the 2nd semester of the program and am set to graduate in December 2021. I have not forgotten of the reason that God put me on this earth, as explained in the vision I had recently, so I strive toward that high calling and hold fast to it, in Jesus’ Name.

I won’t give up this dream up to Satan and certainly won’t let him swallow me or devour my dream up. This dream shall give birth. The vision I had is simple and plain and I am writing out my vision and making it plain in my journal as I continue to pray and have faith that this too shall pass.

~”And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”~Habakkuk 2:2, ESV~

The task ahead of me won’t be easy. But, I shall press on. I will go through trial after trial to test my patience and willingness to wait for my dream to come to pass. But, I shall press forward. My part to step out on faith to make my dream happen is up to me. But, the rest is up to God.

I shall not want. I will cease striving and know that Jesus is Lord of my life and of my dream to become a counselor.

~”These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”~2 Corinthians 2:10, English Standard Version~

I just got my Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University. I am thankful to God for this degree and the impact that His Holy Spirit will cause for me to have on others, as a result of following His will to receive this degree. My time in school is not finished yet though.

As I prayed, the Lord showed me that He wanted me to return to school…NOT seminary school, but for my calling in the secular field. His Holy Spirit showed me that I am meant to press into the high calling of God that is in Christ Jesus by obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in order to bring the Lord glory by giving healing, help, and hope, to the lost and saved. This is so that I can obtain my license in professional counseling and become a licensed professional counselor (LPC, or Sarah Dickens, LPC).

~”I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”~Philippians 3:14, New International Version~

I already knew that I would return back to school to become a counselor. But, I did not know when I would return to school, for such a time is this. This all falls back to my life experiences.

I went to Lebanon a couple of years ago for a missions trip. While on the trip, I met a friend, who has since inspired me through her calling in counseling in the secular field and as a tool for ministry, to go into counseling as a career. I thank God that I met this special friend because of the great impact that His Holy Spirit has allowed her to have on my life through sound Biblical counsel as well as to make an imprint on my life through her call, as a counselor.

I have asked this friend for advice for how to solve various problems (such as my family dynamics, issues with friends, boundary setting, etc.), and the Holy Spirit has been able to use her to show me how to solve life’s problems through counseling as a calling, career, and tool for ministry. I believe that the hand of God has orchestrated for the both of us to meet so that God could take me into the next level of elevation for my life that is counseling, as a profession and calling, in the Name of Jesus Christ. I also believe that God allowed us to meet so that she could be like a mentor-figure in my life as the Holy Spirit of God showed her how to lead me in the ways of God that are relevant to the teachings of the Bible and counseling that are realistic, sound, and profound to the Body of Christ and the lost.

I thank God for my friendship with this person because of the blessing that was birthed out of it that is my calling and profession: counseling.

Now, I have a calling that I need to pursue. I have a calling that I need to chase after. I have a profession that is in the secular world, but not of it, as I am a follower of Jesus Christ and His Spirit is my witness that I can do all things.

I am set to graduate from Liberty University with a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in December 2021 and then become a licensed associate professional counselor (LAPC) before I obtain my LPC in a couple of years. My goal is to become an LAPC before I become an LPC in the state of Georgia. 🙂

I thank God for using people and life’s experiences that eventually led to me pursuing my calling in Christ Jesus. Thank You God! Thank You Jesus! Hallelujah!

I came to the Lord in that secret place during my quiet time today and asked Him as I prayed, “God, What is next? What is next for me to do in my life?”

I just got back from a medical missions trip to Uganda and finished my Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University and this was the first question that came to my mind. Even today, I asked myself this question: “God: What is next?”

~”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”~Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version~

I am set to start my online classes with Liberty University for my 3rd Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am really excited!! Yet, I am also very anxious about what this part of my future holds. I have my 2nd Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling and hope to earn this 3rd Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling so that I can open up my own Children’s center (I’m not sure if it will be a counseling center for children, a school, or a school with a counseling center for children, but I am still praying about it as the Lord shows me).

I have hopes. I have dreams. I have goals and aspirations for the future.

I do not know what the future holds, but I trust in You God. I feel anxious, but I trust in You God. I worry about what others will think of me wanting to get a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree (this will also be my third Master’s degree), but I trust in You God.

~”Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”~Psalm 46:10, English Standard Version~

I had a dream. In this dream that I had a couple of years ago before I went on my short-term missions trip to Japan, I dreamed that I was pregnant. My good friend from church laid hands on my stomach and told me, “Be fruitful and multiply,” and kissed my pregnant stomach. I believe that this dream meant that I would, one day, open up my own children’s center, which is related to the children’s center that God put in my heart to open many years later.

~”Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”~Psalm 37:4, English Standard Version~

Even though I do not know what is next for my life, I believe that God wants me to cleave to His promise that I would open up my children’s center one day. I just have to hold fast to the promises of God and claim that this dream that God showed me would come to pass to, in the Name of Jesus Christ.

One day, this too shall pass. I just have to keep calm and keep pressing on, in the Name of Jesus Christ. This 3rd Master’s degree that I shall obtain is all a part of the great plan that God has for my future: for me to open up this children’s center. I just have to continue my focus on my Heavenly Father and everything else will fall into place.

~”Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”~Philippians 4:8-9, New International Version~

Please keep me in prayer so that my focus is on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, during this season. God bless you!!

**Also, keep me in prayer as I am in the process of writing my first book and will be featured on WATC-TV Channel 57 (A Christian broadcast channel), on Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 at 7:00 pm. Watch for me friends and God bless!!

A couple of weeks ago, me and the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home went to the Georgia Aquarium. It was a very fun and neat experience as me and the children admired all of these animals, as God’s creation!

~”God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.“~Genesis 1:25, New International Version~

Harmony took many, many pictures of the animals with my cellphone. I gave her my permission to do because I wanted her to be able to experience the glory of God through taking photos and have a lovely time with the other children too! Harmony took pictures of many animals, such as whales, many arrays of fish, and dolphins! As a result, Harmony was able to meditate on what was the true, noble, right, pure, admirable, lovely, and praiseworthy attributes of God as she took photos of the animals.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”~Philippians 4:8-9, English Standard Version~

We saw a live dolphin show at the Georgia Aquarium. Many people, including the children, in the audience admired in awe of the glory and majesty of God that was put on display as the dolphins twisted and twirled in and out of the water. The dolphins even gave many splashes to members of the audience, the children, and myself included, from the water!

Me and the children of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home enjoyed our time at the Georgia Aquarium as we walked around and gazed upon every colorful fish that seemed to stare right back at you as you look at them right in the eyes. We departed after an eventful day at Georgia Aquarium and remember this day as a day that the Lord made for us to glorify Him through his creation that were the animals!

About one week ago, one of the girls, who I will call Mara, made for me a beautiful portrait of a tree with many apples on it as a gift. When I looked at this painting, I thought about a dream that I had concerning the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home as well as the reason that God put me here in the first place.

Before coming to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home for my internship, I had a dream that I saw a tree and on that tree were many apples falling from it that were fruitful as well as many colorful pictures of me with children inside of those pictures of which rested on the tree.

Looking at the painting that Mara made for me reminded me of my purpose. It reminded me of the reason that God had me at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home: to witness the Gospel of Christ Jesus to the children with boldness!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.“~Romans 1:16, English Standard Version~

I shared an evangecube with the girls of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. An evangecube is a block that tells the story of Jesus, of His death on the cross and resurrection, through pictures, in order to save people from their sins and enter into Heaven.

I shared the evangecube with about 3-4 of the girls of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. One of them shared with me that she and another girl got saved a couple of weeks ago as a result of wanting to know more about Jesus from the staff of the Georgia Baptists Children’s Home. Praise the Lord for testimonies of His goodness and of His Son, Jesus Christ!

**I only have two weeks left of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. Please pray for me and for the girls and that these last couple of weeks will be fruitful in all that we do. Thank you kindly everyone and blessings!

The past two weeks at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home have been very fruitful indeed! I thank God for blessing the girls as God has equipped me, by His Spirit, to be a blessing and empower them.

~”God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”~Genesis 1:28, New International Version~

~”For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”~1 Peter 1:16, New Living Translation~

Last Wednesday, I led a devotional on the a story from the Classic Bible Stories Treasury that I ordered from Amazon. I opened the devotional with prayer and read the story called, “Jesus Walks on Water,” and asked them a series of questions related to the story. When I asked the question, “How is the fact when Jesus asked Peter to walk on water an act of faith?”

One of the girls, who I will call Jade, seemed very interested in this story and said after I posed this question, “When Jesus asked Peter to walk on water, this was an act of faith because it proved that Peter believed in Jesus as he walked on the water!”

After Jade answered this question, I asked other questions, of which the girls answered with enthusiasm as they showed interest in the story. I closed this devotional I led with a word of prayer as we ate lunch together on that day.

~”For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”~2 Timothy 1:7~

This Wednesday, one of the girls, who I will call Andrea, exhibited signs of depression as well as separation anxiety from her biological mother. I was led by the Holy Spirit of God to go and talk to her (with gentleness and boldness) to give her tips about how she could cope with her depression and separation anxiety. I told her that she could draw, write in the journal that I got for her, pray, and pick a Scripture to read from the Bible. I offered to walk her into her bedroom with her in order to alleviate her separation anxiety, but she turned down my offer as she continued to draw on her sheet of paper with eyes on it while listening to me talk to her.

After she declined my offer to help her, I told her as my shift ended for the day, “I will be praying for you.” This was not easy to say, but as part of ministry, I know and am aware that I will offer many times to pray or assist and will be rejected. God is preparing me for these types of situations, such as this one, that come up, as well as giving me discernment for when to talk about spiritual things to the girls at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. Regardless, God will honor me for stepping out on faith to help Andrea with her needs as well as praying fervently for her.

~”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”~John 1:1-3, New International Version~

This Friday, the girls and boys of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, including the staff and me, went to the Atlanta Zoo. It was altogether very beautiful to see the animals as I and we admired these wondrous creations of God!! I especially admired the pandas and flamingos !! 🙂

Harmony helped me take most of the pictures of the animals at the Atlanta Zoo!! She, along with Maggy, seemed really excited for me to be with them as well as accompany them on this field trip! Madeline, one of the girls who went on this field trip, pointed out to me of a gorilla, who was sitting on the green grass and eating straw. I thank God for the bonding that the girls experienced with me as well as the blessed fellowship experienced during our time at the Atlanta Zoo!!

~”As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”~Proverbs 27:17, New International Version~

~”But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”~1 John 1:7, New Living Translation~

The past two weeks at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home have been very fruitful indeed. It was as if Almighty God opened up the heavens to let it rain upon this place.

~”God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”~Genesis 1:28, New International Version~

For the past two weeks, I have been witnessing to the girls at the Cox Cottage, which is a building where the girls stay at in the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. Last Friday and two days ago, I had the opportunity to see Harmony again. She recognized me as I entered the downstairs of the Cox Cottage and ran towards me to give me a hug! ❤ I felt honored not only that she recognized me, but also that the good Lord would notion Harmony to give me a hug because it shows that the joy of God is working through Harmony to heal her of her past wounds so that she too can walk in the victory of Christ.

~”He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”~Psalm 147:3, New International Version~

I walked towards the table and sat down with Harmony and a couple of the other girls, (for the sake of this article, I changed their names): Madeline and Alyssa, and we ate lunch together. We ate chicken, sweet potatoes, and mixed vegetables and talked away for the past hour.

After the girls ate lunch, one of the lead teachers held a time called Sanctuary, which is a time in which the girls talk openly about how they feel as well as their goals for that day. This time is a very healing and soothing time for them because it gives them the chance to talk openly about their feelings in a way that is healthy and honoring to themselves and God too. After going the girls went around the room and shared these things, one of the girls read a devotional from a book. This encouraged me to know that the girls have a strong and uplifting desire to know God and to know of who Jesus is and His fruits. My prayer is that each and every one of these girls will know who Jesus is this Summer 2019 during my time at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home!

~”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”~Galatians 5:22-23, New International Version~

~”Ye shall know them by their fruits.”~Matthew 7:16, King James Version~

One of the girls, Alyssa, told me that she liked my voice because it sounded soothing, as I was talking to her. It’s something how God has his ways of humoring us! I laughed at this remark that Alyssa told me and thanked her for the compliment.

I also noticed that one of the other girls, Mercy, had a journal. I asked her if she liked to journal and she told me, “Yes.” She shared with me that her two favorite Scripture from the Bible are Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 29:11. I shared with her that my favorite Bible verse was Philippians 4:13, which she pointed out to me of a painting that was behind the both of us in the living room of the Cox Cottage as we were talking! It’s amazing how God has His way of ordering our steps to have these special moments, like this one that me and Jordan shared!

~”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”~Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version~

~”May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!”~Psalm 29:11, English Standard Version~

~”I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”~Philippians 4:13, English Standard Version~

Harmony and me painted pictures for the remainder of the afternoon. She liked the tree of life painting that I painted along with the Scripture from Proverbs 3:18 that I included in the painting! I made two other pictures of which I colored and gave to Alyssa and her friend, Melissa, after I made them. They were really, really excited that I gave them the pictures. I could see the light of Christ expressed on their faces as I saw their faces lighten up with His joy! Praise the Lord!! He is good, in the Name of Jesus Christ!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

~”….for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”~Nehemiah 8:10, New International Version~

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Teaching about the Law.”~Matthew 5:14-16, New International Version~

The girls, one of the lead teachers, and me went outside to enjoy the fresh air. I thanked God for providing for beautiful weather because it gave the girls the opportunity to experience the presence of God through the sunny weather!

The girls cheerfully and graciously told me, “Bye!!,” as I left for the day. I thanked God for the impact that His Spirit allowed for me to make on them on that day as well as for the changes and transformations that were taking place in the girls, by the power of Jesus Christ!

***Pray for me as I will be leading Sanctuary and teaching next week at the Cox Cottage to the girls at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home! Thanks everyone, please share, and blessings!***

Yesterday was a day of fun at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home Palmetto, Georgia campus. It was a day that that Lord had made, indeed, for me and for the children, as His Holy Spirit filled it with His blessings.

~”This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”~Psalm 118:24, English Standard Version~

One of the staff of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home gave me a tour around the campus. I did not realize, until she shared with me, that the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home Palmetto campus is 400 acres, filled with many, MANY buildings and lots and lots of land! The teacher staff shared with me that the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home rescues girls, who have been through sex trafficking, as well as houses pregnant mothers who are not financially stable, until their children have been born. These were facts that I did not know and that I thought to be very interesting. She also showed me a retreat area that is in the back of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home Palmetto Campus, where missionaries come if they need a break from doing their missionary work or if they need a safe space to refuel and get spiritually re-charged. This area was very calming and I could feel the peace of God in the atmosphere as the teacher staff shared this with me.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After I was given a tour of the entire Georgia Baptist Children’s Home Palmetto campus, I was given a very tedious task. Me and another intern were assigned the task of organizing paperwork concerning the children in big, big binders. Even though I thought this task to be very boring, I did it anyways because I knew that He would bless the works of my hands for completing such a task as this. This was ministry, at its finest, as this task prepared my hands for a task that was coming ahead of me that would be bigger than this assigned task today.

~”So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”~1 Corinthians 10:31, New Living Translation~

After I completed this task, one of the teacher staff of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home and me helped to organize for the field day that would be for the children. I assisted him by putting together a water slip and slide for the children,which they thoroughly enjoyed. The water slip and slide consisted of two blue mats with a water hose that poured a spring of water and soap onto the water slip and slide so that the children could slide down on the water slip and slide mats. The end of completing this task was very fulfilling because it gave me a sense of purpose and direction for these hands that I used to work to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the children who were at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home.

I went inside immediately following this task and assisted the teacher staff of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home with the indoor field day activities. I was assigned to stand at a game area that consisted of a mat with ball darts that the children could throw and score points. I distributed lollipops to all of the children and cheered them on as they threw the ball darts at the mat. It was fun and very encouraging, indeed!

Towards the end of the day, the children had a water ballon fight and I was the ONLY teacher who participated. One of the children managed to toss a water ballon on my head. I laughed and I giggled as she yelled, “YES!!!,” and I laughed and giggled outloud and alongside her and at what she did.

It was fun to see the children laughing and playing. It was fun to see the children running around, innocently and as God intended for them to be. It was fun for me to see the Gospel of Jesus being put into action as the children ran around and around and around the field area and I joined in on the fun. It was a new day. It was a new day, in the Name of Jesus Christ. It was a new day indeed, in the Name of Jesus Christ.

~”Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”~Matthew 19:14, New International Version~

~”And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”~Romans 10:15, English Standard Version~

**Please note: The blog posts that I write for my time at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home will be mentioned in this blog, Sarah’s Spiritual Walk. I forgot to mention in my previous blog post that from May 17th-August 16th, 2019, I will be writing entirely about my time as an intern at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. No other posts will be written about other topics except about my time at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. After the dates mentioned, I will write about other topics that target youth, both boys and girls. Thanks everyone for understanding and enjoy reading my posts!! 🙂

It was a beautiful and hot Summer day at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home yesterday.

Yesterday, I went on a nature hike at the Sweetwater Creek State Park in Palmetto, Georgia with the children and teacher staff of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. Throughout the Summer at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, I will be going on many, MANY field trips with the children and this just happened to be one of them. It is the first of MANY field trips that I will be going on many fun adventures with the children! 😉

Anyway, I went nature hiking with the children and led a group of children with one other teacher while other staff were divided up into teams to lead other children on the nature hike. Me and the other teacher led about 10-12 children and hiked for about 1 mile on the nature trails of Sweetwater Creek State Park. I looked above the tall, tall hills of the sites in front of me. I gazed upon the streaming rivers of water that flowed about like milk and honey mentioned in the Bible. I marveled when me, the other teacher, and the children reached the end of the nature trails.

~”On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.”~Ezekiel 20:6, English Standard Version~

It was a marvelous site that was spectacular to behold!! I took in the fresh air of the nature day, admiring the beauty of the hill tops that was like a mountain top that we reached from the nature trails that was the valleys. Praise the Lord for majesty!!

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”~Psalm 46:10, New Living Translation~

~”Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.”~Mark 11:23, English Standard Version~

It was in that moment that I was admiring the majesty of God that I found Jesus with my two eyes in the streaming rivers of water. My eyes marveled the clear, blue skies that was the nature God created, from the beginning to the end. I looked upon the rocks, which are like a firm foundation and symbolic of my salvation that is found in My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is my hope that each boy and every girl will find Jesus this Summer. It is my hope that they will have a firm foundation in the Word of God this Summer. It is my hope that every child here will have a firm foundation in Christ Jesus alone and worship Him as their Cornerstone this Summer, in the Name of Jesus Christ.

~”For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”~1 Corinthians 3:11, English Standard Version~

The teacher staff, children, and me had lunch by a picnic area near the lakes of the Sweetwater Creek State Park. It was beautiful to behold the sites of the lake around and about us. The touch of God’s hands left His mark and His fingerprints on the lakes, as I could see and admire with my own two eyes.

One of the children came up to me as I was marveling and taking in the nature sites of the lakes. I cannot mention her real name, but for the sake of this blog post, we will call her Harmony. Harmony, who is a middle school aged girl, opened up to me and shared things with me about her past that she did not tell the other teacher staff of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home ( I know this because after we had this conversation, she explained to me that she did not tell any of the other teachers this). She told me that when she was about four years old, she got in a car accident and as a result of the car accident, she had some bones fractured on the neck area of her body.

I could tell that by the way she interacted with me that she felt safe and comfortable. This gave me a chance to put my Pastoral Counseling techniques that I learned from Liberty University into practice as we interacted with each other. I was quiet and listened to her tell me her story. After hearing this story, I said to her, “Sounds like you had a horrible accident (Pastoral Counseling listening technique of acknowledgement.—in this case of her situation). I hope you get well soon and I will be praying for you and that God will heal you.”

After I told her this, she thanked me for telling her that I will pray for her. Shortly after our interactions, I confided in one of the teacher staff in what Harmony told me about her car accident so that they would be aware and that they would know better ways to witness and minister to her. The teacher staff, who I told, thanked me for sharing this with her and told me that Harmony has a hard time opening up to other children and feels more comfortable around adults. She also told me that the children shun Harmony because of the rash marks that are around her lips. This gave me more insight for how to pray for Harmony and that God would heal every part of her, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I thanked God for opening up the opportunity for me to interact with Harmony for I know that this is the first of many, MANY interactions that I will have with the children of which God will open up doors for me to actively engage with the children in conversations that enable me to utilize my Pastoral Counseling listening techniques this Summer. Let us pray now! 🙂

Dear God,

I thank You for the beautiful nature that you allowed for me, the teacher staff of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, and the children to admire yesterday. I thank You that You alone are the Creator and Beholder of nature and that You are present (everywhere), in the Name of Jesus Christ. Thank You that Your promise still stands, even when the ground is sinking sand, that You will never leave us nor forsake us. I also thank You for giving Harmony boldness to interact with me and that Your Holy Spirit will give her and the other children empowerment to interact with me as this will be healing for them as You allow them to enter into Your healing presence. You are a God who heals and You are Harmony’s Healer. I lift up Harmony as well as the conversation that You opened up a door for me to have with her. I thank You that You even allowed this conversation to take place and that You divinely orchestrated it, for such a time was this time. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will touch Harmony and that she will experience healing, physically in her neck, and spiritually, so that she will come to know Jesus through me and the other teacher staff of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. I thank You that You blessed the conversation that You allowed us to have and pray that You will guide Harmony in her interactions with the teacher staff and children. Bless Harmony and the children, who You allowed me to lead today at the Sweetwater Creek State Park. Thank You Jesus! We give You the glory, the honor, and the praise.

The past two days at the Palmetto, Georgia campus of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home have been such a blessing!!

~””When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.'”~Luke 10:5, New International Version~

It was a hot and beautiful Summer day. I remember when my Lyft driver dropped me off at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home that morning. I went inside of one of the buildings of the home and was warmly greeted by one of the co-workers. Shortly thereafter, my supervisor entered into the building and she directed me to another building at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home—-the gymnasium.

While in the gymnasium, my supervisor assigned me a great task. She wanted me to create four advertisements that would attract the children to the Summer clubs that would be happening at the Palmetto campus of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. I thought and thought about this task she assigned and agreed to do it. I explained to her that I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication and that because of this qualification, that I can do this task. I thank God for granting me favor and stature with my supervisor, just at God granted Jesus favor in the Bible with Himself and man.

~”Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.”~Luke 2:52, New Living Translation~

My supervisor admired the advertisements that that created and complimented them. She told me that I did a great job! Then, I cleaned the closet of my supervisor’s office as well as a the science classroom closet of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home gymnasium. Even though I was not expecting to get a task such as this one, prepared the works of my hands for these tasks that were ahead of me and cleaned away! I thank God for giving me the strength to clean these rooms of the gymnasium because it gave these rooms divine order as well as a sense of peace so that the children can enjoy the gymnasium to the fullest and thrive under the shade of its roof. 🙂

~”But godliness with contentment is great gain.”~1 Timothy 6:6, New International Version~

~”Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”~Philippians 4:6-7, New Living Translation~

Towards the end of the day, I led a prayer walk with one of the volunteers of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. This was my FAVORITE part of the day!! I walked, and walked, and walked around the campus with the volunteer, blessing every part of every house, every boy, and every girl, who resided in the cottages of the Palmetto campus of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. I even prayed for the counselors, social workers, psychologists, and co-workers of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home and that God would bless them and guide them in their interactions with the children. Overall, this was a very fruitful part of my day!!

~”We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”~Colossians 1:3-12, New International Version~

~”For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”~Luke 12:12, New International Version~

And that was my first day at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home! Let us pray!:

Dear God,

Thank You for this incredible opportunity that You gave me to serve at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. Thank You that You are blessing the works of my hands this Summer so that I, in turn, can be a blessing to staff and the children of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will touch the lives of every boy and every girl here so that they know that Jesus is Lord. I pray that they will experience healing (mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as You prepare their hearts in that secret place to receive Jesus this Summer. I pray that You will make every a part of this time that I spend at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, such as this, special as You show me how to encourage and inspire the children in a way that empowers them to love You and themselves, more and more, grace by grace, and day by day. We give You the glory, the honor, and the praise.